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Practice at Ford Field

Lions' den: As a reward for being the top-seeded team in the Midwest Regional's Sweet 16, Kansas University's basketball players have been awarded the Detroit Lions' locker room.

It's by far the biggest - and best - locker room at Ford Field, better than the locker rooms awarded to No. 12 seed Villanova, No. 3 Wisconsin and 10 Davidson.

"We can't clown around as much because we're so far away from each other. Maybe that will help calm us down," KU freshman Tyrel Reed said with a smile.

The Jayhawks were in mighty cramped quarters during last week's first-and second-round action in Omaha, Neb.

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Bumps, bruises: Coach Bill Self says the Jayhawks are in good health for this time of year.

Senior Rodrick Stewart is 100-percent recovered from last week's bout of tonsillitis. Sophomore Sherron Collins is moving around well despite a bruised left knee.

"He doesn't feel great. He will not feel great. He's fine. Soreness is no reason why he won't perform well," Self said of Collins.

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Shootaround: The Jayhawks held a 40-minute shootaround before about 2,000 fans on Thursday at Ford Field. Like last week in Omaha, Darrell Arthur thrilled the fans with a monster jam dunk during a short dunk drill.

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Arena talk: KU athletic director Lew Perkins is not sure what to think of the setup at Ford Field. The basketball court sits in the middle of the massive football arena, with the playing surface elevated. The bench areas are actually below the court.

"It's hard for me to visualize what it will be like tomorrow," Perkins said. "It could be excellent; it could be not so good. We'll see what happens when people are in the building."

Self's take on the dome that is expected to seat 60,000 or more fans today: "I don't have a problem with the size of the building at all because the team that wins this tournament this weekend is going to play in a big building next weekend. Maybe the winner out of here would have an advantage (in San Antonio).

"I think the court setup is unique. It's different for both teams."

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Brown speak: Self was asked if former KU coach Larry Brown, executive vice president of the Philadelphia 76ers, would like this Jayhawk team.

"He's seen us practice a couple of days and watched us play (in Lawrence)," Self said. "I think he likes this team. He also likes Villanova's team, too. He's seen them a lot more than he's seen us because he lives there in Philly. I know he and Jay (Wright, Villanova coach) are pretty close.

"We are a team that's balanced. It seems to be a different guy most every night for us."

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No Sunday times yet: CBS has not announced the times of Sunday's Elite Eight games. It's believed one game will start at 1 p.m. and the other at 3:30 p.m. An announcement on game times may be coming today.